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One of Japan's busiest airports remained closed indefinitely, one day after the strongest typhoon hit Japan in 25 years flooded a runway, overturned cars, damaged historic shrines and caused at least 11 dead. The main island of Japan.
Typhoon Jebi landed with sustained winds of 100 miles, cutting off a path of destruction in and around Osaka, as well as in nearby towns, which were most affected by the storm.
A large commercial vessel was washed away by a breakwater and shipping containers were left floating in the sea. In Kyoto, the ancient imperial capital and a popular tourist destination, wooden buildings and large orange-red entrance doors were demolished. Soaring trees fell in a shrine in Nara, another historic city.
More than 400,000 households in western and central Japan remained without electricity on Wednesday, and power companies warned that it would take time to get everyone back online. The secretary general of the cabinet, Yoshihide Suga, said that at least 11 people were killed and 470 people were injured.
Some 3,000 air passengers who spent the night at Kansai airport off the coast were able to leave on boats and buses under sunny skies. They were stranded after an oil tanker moored by the surging waves of the storm and the wind struck a bridge that is the only airport link to the mainland.
Officials could not say when the airport, the gateway for Asian tourists visiting Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe, would reopen. "At this point, we can not say for sure when we can reopen," said Hiroshi Nishio, a manager at Kansai airport. "The equipment has been flooded and inspection takes time."
The closure of the main airport serving one of Japan's major commercial and commercial areas has raised concerns about the possible impact on tourism and the economy.
"If Kansai Airport is unusable for a long time, this will have a definite impact on the regional economy and on the Japanese economy as a whole, as the airport is a commercial hub for companies, "said Akira Yoshimura, an analyst on public television. .
Flooding at the airport largely declined on Wednesday, but air operations equipment had to be assessed for damage, as did the crushed part of the bridge. The airport was built on artificial islands in Osaka Bay.
Passengers stranded overnight seemed relieved but exhausted after a difficult night in the dark.
Hideko Senoo, a 51-year-old housewife planning a family trip to India, said the terminal was hot and dark after losing electricity and food at convenience stores was depleted.
"We could not use vending machines or access the wireless network for information," she told Kyodo's information service.
Miki Yamada, a 25-year-old office worker planning a trip to Thailand with her friend, told Kyodo that she had spent the night in an airport cafeteria. "It was a pretty scary night because we were so isolated," she said.
Universal Studios Japan theme park in Osaka was closed for a second day on Wednesday, but said it would reopen Thursday.
Factories in the region, including automaker Daihatsu Motor Co., electronics giant Panasonic and beverage maker Kirin Co., are expected to resume operations on Wednesday after the suspension of production during the typhoon, said Kyodo.
Among those who died, there was a 70-year-old man who was knocked down from his apartment in Osaka Prefecture. Police said at least five other people were killed elsewhere in the prefecture after being hit by flying objects or falling from their apartments. In neighboring Shiga prefecture, a 71-year-old man died when a storage building collapsed on him, and a 70-year-old man died after falling from a roof to Mie, said officials.
In Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, about 100 cars were set on fire in a seaside concession after their electrical systems were short-circuited by seawater, fire officials said. media.
Associated Press author Ken Moritsugu in Tokyo contributed to this report.
